2015-16 UTEP Men’s Basketball Team Could Be Tim Floyd’s Best Yet
It is still very early in the 2015-16 college basketball season. However, after years of disappointment, basketball fans in El Paso are starting to sense that things are finally on the verge of something special. UTEP defeated Southern Illinois and Colorado State in consecutive days to win the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic basketball tournament. The win over CSU was even more memorable, since the Miners came back from a 17-point halftime deficit to beat the Rams 99-90 in double overtime. UTEP's 6-0 start is their best in 15 years.
How big was the tournament win for the Miners? The team's RPI jumped up from 300 to 9 in two days and their strength of schedule rose from 351 (worst in Division 1) to 39. UTEP is also receiving votes in both polls and Earvin Morris was named C-USA Player of the Week.
This UTEP team is filled with players who all want to take the big shot late in games. From newcomers Dominic Artis and Lee Moore to familiar faces like Morris and Hooper Vint, the Miners have a roster full of scorers. Head coach Tim Floyd is also rotating a deep bench that has kept his team fresh for 40 minutes of play.
The Miners have a big week in front of them, including a huge road game Wednesday night at the Pan Am Center against I-10 Rival NMSU and then a home game against UT Arlington. If Floyd's club is able to win both games, they could soon become a major story in college basketball. It would be even more appropriate since this is the 50th anniversary of Texas Western's NCAA Championship.